Two Ogle County men charged in bar break-in

Third person involved is under investigation

ASHTON – Bond will be set today for two Ogle County men who police say broke into an Ashton bar early Monday and stole alcohol and cash.

Mitchell R. Jacobson, 25, of Rochelle, and Landon S. Kempson, 20, of Kings, were in Lee County Jail Monday night charged with burglary.

Kempson also is charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon, and Jacobson also was arrested on a DeKalb County warrant for failure to appear on a misdemeanor retail theft charge.

Lee County sheriff’s deputies got a call reporting a break-in at the Side Track Bar, 912 Main St., about 5:45 a.m.. It appears burglars forced their way into a back door and took bottles of alcohol and a small amount of cash from the register, Sheriff John Varga said.

The person who reported the break-in told deputies a “suspicious” van was parked in the alley off of Main Street. Deputies later spotted a van with Jacobson, Kempson, and driver Shanda N. Bubok. Bottles were rolling around on its floor, Varga said.

Bubok, 27, gave deputies a false ID, and was charged with driving with a suspended license and obstructing justice, Varga said. She posted bond Monday and was given a notice to appear in court. She was not charged in the break-in.

Kempson had a set of brass knuckles in his pocket, he said.

A fourth person, whom Varga declined to name, is being investigated for possible involvement in the burglary.

Jacobson has two misdemeanor retail theft convictions in Ogle County. Kempson has misdemeanor convictions of battery, theft, DUI, and damage to property.